Vehicle nuisance / ASB

Vehicle nuisance/vehicle related antisocial behaviour involving cars, bikes and mopeds

Police powers
There are many police only powers to stop vehicles involved in nuisance and related antisocial behaviour(ASB), including prosecution for driving offences such as:
- no insurance
- poor / dangerous driving
- condition and use offences.

Recently, the Metropolitan Police have added information and advice on their website for people to understand what vehicle ASB is and how to report nuisance vehicles to them.

Residents can report crime, motoring offences and ASB online.

What is vehicle related ASB?
Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, streetcruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution – though this can be the most noticeable problem.

Street racing
Street racing is the illegal racing of any kind of vehicle on a public road. Street racing is extremely dangerous as it can involve high speeds, weaving through traffic and ignoring traffic signals like red lights. This obviously puts other road users and members of the public in an extremely dangerous position. The only time street racing is permitted is when the organiser has obtained prior permission from the police as part of an organised event.

Street cruising
Street cruising is when a group of vehicle owners form a convoy and drive up and down a street or around a neighbourhood – usually to show off their cars or bikes. They’ll often drive slowly and may even take up both sides of the road. This can hold up traffic behind and make things difficult for other road users.

Riding unlicensed powered vehicles
It’s against the law in the UK to ride hoverboards, minibikes (or ‘mini motos’), motorised scooters, such as GoPeds and e-scooters on both public roads and pavements. The same applies to ‘trail’ bikes, three-wheeled bikes and quads unless they are displaying valid number plates. These vehicles may only be used on private roads or land with the road or land-owner’s permission.

Misusing vehicles off-road
While quad bikes, three-wheeled bikes, trail bikes and some other two-wheeled vehicles are built for off-road use, it is against the law to ride them in public parks or on publicly owned land without permission from the local authority. As with unlicensed powered vehicles, these can only be used on private roads or land with the road or landowner’s permission.

You can find out more about wider road safety online.